Bournemouth v Tottenham: Metro.co.uk’s big match preview

Tottenham‘s capitulation at the end of last season, with a first Premier League title tantalisingly close to their grasp, prompted the usual jibes.

‘THE ULTIMATE BOTTLERS’, Gooners crowed after Spurs claimed just two points from their final four fixtures, while experts confidently asserted that the north Londoners had wasted the best chance they would ever get of becoming champions.

Fast-forward five months and Mauricio Pochettino’s side don’t seem to have taken any of it to heart.

They remain the only unbeaten outfit in the top flight, sit just a point off top in third place, and proved their pedigree with a dominant 2-0 win over league leaders Manchester City.

Their opponents on Saturday lunchtime, Bournemouth, have recovered from an indifferent start to quietly build a fine run of form.

Eddie Howe’s side have only lost one of their last six games, to Pep Guardiola’s City, and smashed Hull 6-1 in their last outing.

It’s a big game for…

Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day (Getty)

It would usually be harsh to talk about a 24-year-old player being in last-chance saloon, but such is Jack Wilshere’s experience, and his dreadful luck with injuries, that it seems apt.

The midfielder’s loan move from Arsenal made a lot of sense – few players are in such desperate need for first-team football as he, and the high-flying Gunners don’t seem to have missed him.

Wilshere has been an understated, but important part of Bournemouth’s recent good run, sitting third in the Premier League’s passing accuracy stats.

Perhaps most encouragingly, the perennially injury-prone England international has started the side’s last four games – although he hasn’t yet lasted more than 78 minutes.

The lifelong Gooner will hope having the added spice of a clash with Spurs will provide a fitting platform for him to return to his buzzing, brilliant best.

Likely lineups…

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Toby Alderweireld is still out with the knee injury that caused him to miss Spurs’ midweek draw at Bayer Leverkusen. Eric Dier should keep his place deputising for the Belgian in central defence.

Harry Kane, who hasn’t played since September 18, remains sidelined with an ankle injury – Son Heung-min is likely to lead the line despite Vincent Janssen’s decent showing in Europe.

Danny Rose faces a late fitness test after bruising his foot in Germany, but Kyle Walker is expected to come back into the side after being rested. Mousa Dembele could also return to the starting lineup after two consecutive substitute appearances.

For the hosts, midfielder Harry Arter is rated as 50-50 to start by Eddie Howe as he attempts to fight off a knee injury, while Max Gradel could return after suffering from a hamstring problem.

One stat you need to know…

Hugo Lloris has been in superb form behind a well-drilled Spurs defence (Getty)

Bournemouth will have their work cut out to break down the Tottenham defence. Saturday’s miserly visitors have conceded an incredible four Premier League goals from eight matches this season, the fewest (and fewest per game) across all four divisions.

Last time they met…

Bournemouth came up against a rampant Spurs when the sides last met (Getty)

The sides’ last clash came in March, with Spurs hot on the heels of Leicester at the top of the Premier League and in an irresistible vein of form.

Bournemouth got off to a nightmare start, Harry Kane turning in Kyle Walker’s cross in the opening minute, and doubling the hosts’ lead a quarter of an hour later – his 20th and 21st goals of the season.

Christian Eriksen added a third just after the break to give Mauricio Pochettino’s side a comfortable victory and narrow the the gap to the rampant Foxes to five points.

From the archives…

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick, and things only got worse for Bournemouth in last season’s clash (Getty)

The sides have only met three times in the past, and two of those clashes came last season.

In the first of these, Bournemouth took the lead within a minute at Dean Court, but then capitulated – a Harry Kane hat-trick and strikes from Mousa Dembele and Erik Lamela gave the visitors a crushing 5-1 victory.

However, off-pitch events added insult to injury and made the afternoon even more embarrassing for the south-coast side.